Electrically-operated timing apparatus



C. D. RICHARD.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILE D SEPT. a, 1920.

1,412,574. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- y A/fy.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES DONAT RICHARD, OF NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW -YORK, N.

'Y., A CORPORATION OF Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

NEW You. O

ELEoTRIoALLY-oPER TED TIMING APPARATUS.

' Application filed September a, 192 Serial No. 407,9525.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. RICHARD, a citizen of France, residing at New Brighton, in the count of Richmond, State of New York, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Timing Apparatus, of'which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates enerally to timing apparatus and particularTy to apparatus for timing a series of electrical impulses.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device of this character whichshall be simple and accurate andautomatically op- 'erative.

This-is accomplished by the invention in its preferred form by providing a stepping magnet operated by the electrical impulses to bemeasured which rotates a cam to release a time indicating device. At the end of the'series of impulses the cam operates to stop the timing device, thereby recording the speed at which the'impulses occurred.

The device in its preferred form is particularly useful to time the operation of automatic telephone calling dials. To give satisfactory results, such dials. or impulse senders are generally adjusted so that the impulses occur at the rate of ten per second. Any substantial deviation from this rate materially affects the efficiency of the impulse sender. When the impulse timing mechanism is used totime the operation of a calling dial, ten impulsesare dialed. The cam above referred to is constructed so that at the first impulse the timing mechanism is started and at the tenth impulse is stopped by the cam so that an accurate time record is made.

The invention in its preferred form is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a view of the impulse and time recording means; Fig. 2 shows a plan of the clockwork timing mechanism, and the impulse operative mechanism cooperating therewith; Fig. 3 shows a view of the device along the line 3-3 (Fig. 2) showing the operation of the stepping magnet and the associated cam; Fig. 4 shows a view taken along the line 4-4 (Fig. 2) and shows the means for regulating the timing apparatus and the cam and associated parts. In the various figures like parts are designated by like reference characters.

The spiral spring 1 mounted within drum 2 is adapted to drive shaft 3. Pinned on the shaft 3 is a ratchet wheel 4 which engages with pawl 5 mounted on spur gear 6. Spur gear 6 is adapted to drive pinion 7 which is mounted on sleeve 8 to which are also integrally attached the escapement wheel 9 and the spur wheel 10. The sleeve 8 revolves freely on the shaft 14. Escapement wheel 9 is provided with an escapement 11 of any suitable type such as is ordinarily used in clock movements. Spur wheel .19 is pinned fast to the shaft 14 and revolves therewith. On two supporting members 20, 21 is pivoted a shaft 22 to which is pinned apawl 23 which engages with the v teeth of the ratchet wheel 16.

Motion is normally prevented in the pointer 19 by the pawl 23 which enga es the ratchet wheel 16, but when the pawl 23 is withdrawn, friction between the springs 18 and the drum 17 produces rotation in the pointer 19.

The electroma-gnet 24 suitably mounted on the standard 25 is adapted to attract, when energized, an armature 26 attached to the bell crank lever 27, pivot-ally supported on the support 28. Operating pawl 56 is adapted to rotate the ratchet Wheel 57 upon motion ofthe armature 26 toward the magnet 24. A locking pawl 55 is provided to prevent the backward rotation of the ratchetwheel 57. For each time that the armature 26 is attracted to the magnet 24, the ratchet wheel 57 steps one tooth. Twenty teeth are provided on the ratchet wheel 57, so that for ten impulses of the magnet 24, the ratchet wheel 57 is rotated. one-half revolution. A coil spring 29 is provided on the bell crank lever 27 to keep the operating pawl 56 pressed against the teeth of ratchet wheel 57. The ratchet wheel 57 is mounted on a sleeve 30 which rotates freely on the shaft 14. The sleeve 30 carries a pointer 31 which is adapted to rotate concentrically with pointer 19.

Mounted on the sleeve 30 is a cam wheel 32 which is provided with two notches, 33 and 34. ()n the shaft 22; is pinned a lever 35 having a toothed end 36 which fits into the notches 33 and 34.

Normally the mechanism is shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the first impulse of the series to be timed energizes the magnet 24, the cam 32 rotates, throwing the point 36 of the lever 35 out of the notch 34, rotating the shaft 22 to disengage the pawl 23 from the toothed wheel 16 and allowing the pointer 19 to rotate. The timing mechanism, is regulated so that pointer 19 rotates at the rate of one revolution per two seconds. If the impulses energizing the magnet 24 are sent at the rate of 10 per second the pointer 31 will rotate also at the rate of one revolution per two seconds. At the tenth impulse, the point 36 of the lever 35, drops into the notch 33 of the cam 32, since the notch 33 is diametrically opposite to the notch 34. The pawl 23 engages with the wheel 16 and stops the rotation of the pointer 19. If the impulses are sent at the proper speed the pointers 19 and 31 will rotate together and stop together. If the impulses have been sent either fast or slow, the pointer 31 will .accordingly be either behind or before the pointer 19.

The mechanism as described is mounted on a suitable base 37 and provided with a suitable cover 38. ()n the face'of the cover 38 is provided a dial graduated in tenths and fiftieths of a second to accurately indicate the time of the impulse-sending. In order to return the pointers 19 and 31 to their normal positions after test has been made, a rotatable arm 39 is provided mounted on support 40 on the face of the casing 38.

The spring 1 is wound by means of a suitable handle 41 on the shaft Binding posts 42 are provided on the base 37 for connection with conductors by means of which the electrical impulses to be timed are impressed on the magnet 24. In order to regulate the mechanism a dial as shown inFig. 4 of the pointer 43 is provided which rotates with the spur wheel 44 mounted on the shaft 3. Spur wheel 44 is driven from pinion 45 mounted on the shaft 46 with the spur wheel 47 which is driven from the spur gear 48. Spur gear 48 is mounted on the sleeve 8. In order to have a zero point for timing the pointer 43, pointer 49 is provided which may be rotated to any desired position on the dial by means of the knurled knob 50. Pointer 49 is supported on supporting member 51.

As shown in Fig. 2, the sending of impulses is done by means of a diagrammatically shown calling dial 52, the source of current 53 being also shown diagrammatically. Thecalling dial 522 and the battery 53 are connected to the binding posts 42 'by means of conductors 54.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a continuously operating mechanism a time indicating means, a clutch connecting said mechanism, with said means, a catch member normally preventing the operation of said means, a stepping magnet operative by the electrical impulses, a cam rotated by said stepping magnet, and a lever operated by said cam to control Said catch member.

2. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a time indicating means normally held against movement, means operated by the first impulse of a series to release the time-indicating means, means act ing automatically at the end of said series to stop the time-indicating means, a continuously operating driving mechanism for the time-indicating means and a continuously moving pointer operated thereby, by means otv which the time-indicating means is adapted to be timed.

3. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a continuously operating mechanism, a time-indicating mechanism actuated thereby and normally held against movement, means operated by the first impulse of a series to release said timing .mechanism, and means operated automaticall at the last impulse of said series to stop saic timing mechanism.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of August, A. 1).,

CHARLES DONAT' RICHARD. 

